Launch of Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA)

On Tuesday I was at the launch of the new Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) which is going to replace the old Institute for Archaeologists (IfA). Basically, IfA got Chartership. For my non-UK readers ‘Chartership‘ is an official recognition from the Queen. 1000 years ago it meant things like turning villages into cities. Lots of organisations have them in the UK like the BBC and University of Cambridge. Now a largely symbolic gesture it does carry with it lots of prestige. Mainly because of the role government now plays in its governance – once incorporated by Royal Charter, amendments to the Charter and by-laws require government approval. There are lots of hopes and dreams for what Royal Charter will mean for UK Archaeology. As part of the launch event I recorded the plenary talks of some archaeologists views about what Chartership may/should do for Archaeology, well worth a listen to:

Maybe it would all work better if “queenie” put the Welsh corgis in charge of implementing the archaeology charter. Corgis are highly organized, know how to herd things along, and are smarter than a lot of people.